stevens



(No Model.) 2 Sheets Sheet 1. LE ROY WMSTEVENS.

SPRING TOOTHED HARROW. No; 371,903. Patented O0t. 18,1887.

(No Model.) 2 Sheets-Sheet 2. LE ROY W. STEVENS.

SPRING TDOTHED HARROW. No. 871,903. Patented Oct. 18, 1887.

LE nov w. srnvnns, OF AUBURN, NEW YORK.

SPRING-TOOTHED HARROW.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 371.903. dated October18, 11.887.

Original application filed July 18, 1887, Serial No. 244,669. Dividedand this application filed September 21, 1887. Serial No- No model.)

To all whom it may concern.-

Be it known that I, LE ROY W. STEVENS, a citizen of the United States,residing at Auburn, in the county of Cayuga and State of New York, haveinvented certain new and useful Improvements in Spring-Toothed Harrows;and I do hereby declare the following to be a full, clear, and exactdescription of the invention, such as will enable others skilled in theart to which it appertains to make and use the same.

My invention relates to the class of devices known as spring-toothharrows; and it consists in certain improvements in construction,whereby a number of desirable results are accomplished.

In barrows of this class as heretofore made there has been little or noprovision for giving the frame elasticity in the planethereof, or meansfor turning the points of the springteeth away from any heavyobstruction, or those having a firm hold in the soil in advance of theoperative portions of the teeth in aline with such obstructions.

The most common form of frame is composed of intersecting draft andcross bars, which yield only in vertical directions, and the amount ofthis yield, especially at the parts to whichare attached the outer teethof the harrow, has been such that the teeth were not held down to theirwork under all circum stances in such manner as to produce the bestresults, and in passing over large stones,either loose or embedded inthe soil, the harrow would follow the line of draft and the teeth inline with the obstructions'would receive the full force of the blow fromsuch obstructions and receive a heavy sidewise wrench or be bent outhorizontally, often breaking them.

By my improved construction the frame is provided with a certain degreeof elasticity in the plane thereof, and in my preferred construction aguarded seat or pocket is formed at the point where the tooth isconnected, whereby not only is the base or connecting end of the toothprotected, but the point of the same is carried to one side and awayfrom obstructions, thus obviating or almost entirely avoiding theliability of the tooth coming in contact or catching fast toobstructions. This leaves the teeth of the harrow to operate freely inthe soil, and the liability of the harrow be ing thrown away from itswork is greatly reduced, if not entirely obviated. The constructionwhereby these results are secured also performs other functions whichtend to increase the efficiency and durability of the har minimum.

In my application filed July 18, 1887, of which this is a division, Ihave shown substantially the same form of barrow-frame; but thisapplication is limited to such a construction in a springtooth harrow.

In the drawings, Figure This a perspective view of a harrow embodyingone form in which I have contemplated embodying my invention. Fig. 2 isa perspective view of part of a frame of modified construction. Figs. 3,4., and 5 are partial sections of modified constructions. the barrowshownin Fig. 1 folded for shipment. Figs. 7, 8, and 9 are views ofspring harroW-teeth with different forms of guarding and attachingdevices.

In these figures the harrow-frame is shown as composed of two partshinged together. Each of these parts is formed of draft-bars A andintersecting bars B, the said cross-bars being rigidly attached to eachother at the points of intersection. Between these points ofintersection the draft and cross bars are diverged out of the main planeof the frame. The particular form of frame between these points 'ofintersection may be greatly varied and yet the same results secured.

In Fig. 1 the draft and cross bars at these points are given a singleupward curve, and the teeth 0 are attached to the bars at the points ofintersection by clamps or otherwise. The depending portions of the frameadjacent to the seats of the teeth serve as guards for the teeth as theyare in advance of the same, and come in contact with obstructions inline with them and throw the base portion of the teeth on one side ofsaid obstruction; or where this is not possible they raise the teethabove the same, so that they will not catch upon the obstruction, butwill pass over or around the same without the undue strain resultingfrom forcible contact with such obstruction. These depending portions orpockets may be made Fig. 6 is a perspective view of row and to reducethe draft of the same to a in the construction. In the oldconstructions,

in transporting the harrow from one place to another the two parts arefolded together face to face and the harrow drawn upon the ground uponthe curved portions of the springteeth. This gradually wears the teethat the bearing-points, whereby they are materially weakened and theireffectiveness impaired.

- By raising the frame or portions thereof above the seats of the teeththe frame is made to receive a portion of the wear, thereby protectingthe teeth and adding to the durability of the harrow. This position ofthe harrow is shown in Fig. 6, and is the position in which the barrowsare ordinarily shipped, and the curved or upwardly-diverging portions ofthe frame,when in this position,act to protect boththe points and thebowed portions of the teeth. The portions of the frame between thepockets or depending portions afford clearancespaces for the passage ofstones, clods, and other materials lying on the ground through theharrow without clogging.

In Fig. 2 the draft-bars are of the same form as those shown in Fig. 1;but the cross-bars B are of a slightly different contour, the highestparts of the upward-curved portions being nearer the rear draft-bar.This form of crossbar gives a clearance-space beneath the same whichincreases in height rearwardly, so that when the bar comesin contactwith any object on the ground or embedded in it as the harrow is drawnforward an increased space is given for it to pass under the bar,thereby giving a more effective clearance.

In Figs. 3, 4, and 5 I have shown different forms of draft-bars. Theforms shown in Figs. 3 and 5 may be combined with cross bars ofcorresponding form, or they may be combined with Crossbars B, (shown inFig. 2,) as may be preferred. In the form shown in Fig. 4 the teeth maybe attached to the points of intersection, or to a plate connected tothe bars at a a, or inthe other ways herein described.

The guard constructions I prefer to so construct as to leave openingsfor passage of fine or loose earth to pass between them, thus relievingunnecessary strain, which would be added if such guard were of a coneshaped body and with little or no space between the guards; yet withthis latter the object of protecting the free end of the tooth fromcatching fast to or receiving the blow of obstructions would beaccomplished.

It will be seen that in case the tooth-guards strike an immovableobstruction there will also be a lateral yielding of the frame to permitit to pass to one side of the same, and in case the engagement with theobstruction is such that no lateral yielding of the frame will bepossible there will be a yielding of the frame in line with the draft.In case a tooth comes in contact with an obstruction there will be .alike yielding of the frame, relieving the tooth from strain.

Ihave shown, and design in most cases to have, the teeth attached to thelowest parts of the frame. I do not desire, however, to be limited toteeth so attached, as I may attach them to other points of the frame andsecure advantageous results over the old constructions.

In Figs. 7, 8, and9 Ihave shown spring harrow teeth provided withattaching means whereby myinvention maybe cheaply applied to ordinaryforms of barrow-frames made of straightintersecting draft and cross barsorin other ways. In the first of these figures the tooth G is providedwith attaching means, which is the full equivalent of the deflectedportion of the barrow-frame shown in Fig. 1. This attaching meansconsists of two short intersecting bars, I) b, the said bars extendingoutwardly and upwardly from the point of intersection, which is thepoint at which the two bars are connected and which forms the seat ofthe tooth. The outer ends of the four arms formed by these two bars areeach provided with means for connecting it to a harrowframe-such as anaperture or other means.

In Fig. 8 the construction is the same, except that the bar b isshorter, extending only on one side of the seat of the tooth, and inFig. 9 the two bars b b are each of half the length of those in Fig. 7.This last form possesses great elasticity, and may be employed where anunusual amount of yield for the teeth is desired. It can also be usedfor the outer teeth where the otherforms are used for the inner teeth ofthe harrow. While these forms are more especially designed for attaching spring-teeth to old forms of harrow-frames, they may be employedwith a frame constructed substantially as herein shown and de scribed.

What I claim, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is-

1. A. spring-tooth harrow provided with a frame consisting ofintersecting draft and cross bars elastic in all directions in the planeof the frame, whereby the spring-teeth are relieved from excessivestrain, substantially as described.

2. A spring-tooth harrow provided with a frame having intersecting draftand cross bars rigidly connected at the points of intersection, the saiddraft-bars having adjacent to the teeth bracing portions deflected outof the horizontal plane of the frame, substantially as described.

3. A spring-tooth harrow provided with a frame having intersecting draftand cross bars, said draft and cross bars having adjacent to the teethportions deflected out of a horizontal plane, substantially asdescribed.

4. In a spring-tooth harrow, the combination with intersecting draft andcross bars rigidly eonnected,of spring-teeth connected therewith, thesaid bars being provided adjacent to the teeth with portions deflectedout of the horizontal plane of the frame, substantially as described.

5. In a spring-tooth harrow, the combination, with intersecting draftand cross bars rigidly connected at the points of intersection, ofspring-teeth connected to said bars at the points of intersection, saidbars being provided adjacent to said teeth with portions deflected froma horizontal plane, substantially as described.

6. In a spring-tooth harrow, the combination, with intersecting draftand cross bars, of springteeth connected to said harrow, said harrowbeing also provided with teethguards which extend in anupwardly-disposed direction from a point adjacent to the point wheresaid teeth are connected to said harrow, sub stantially as described.

7. In a spring-tooth harrow, the combination, with intersecting draftand cross bars rigidly joined at the point of intersection, ofspring-teeth connected to said harrow at a point adjacent to theintersection of said bars,

said bars forming arms or guards which extend outward and upward from apoint adjacent to the point of intersection of said bars, substantiallyas described.

8. In a harrow, the combination, with inter- 'secting draft and crossbars rigidly connected at the points of intersection, of spring-teethconnected to the frame, said teeth extending 3 5 upwardly and rcarwardlyfrom the point of attachment and having a portion or portions of thesame protected by guards or arms extending outwardly and upwardly from apoint adjacent to the seats of said teeth, substan tially as described.

9. As a new article of manufacture, :a springtooth for a harrow and itsattaching devices, consisting of the tooth, a seat for the same, and twoor more diverging and upwardly and outwardly extending attaching-arms,substantially as described.

In testimony whereof I affix my signature in presence of two witnesses.

LE ROY W. STEVENS.

Witnesses:

W. M. BRINKERHOFF, JAMES E. ELDER.

